# FILESYSTEMS(5) - man - phpMan
[FILESYSTEMS(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/FILESYSTEMS/5/markdown) Linux Programmer's Manual [FILESYSTEMS(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/FILESYSTEMS/5/markdown)
## NAME
filesystems - Linux filesystem types: ext, ext2, ext3, ext4, hpfs, iso9660, JFS, minix,
msdos, ncpfs nfs, ntfs, proc, Reiserfs, smb, sysv, umsdos, vfat, XFS, xiafs
## DESCRIPTION
When, as is customary, the **proc** filesystem is mounted on _/proc_, you can find in the file
_/proc/filesystems_ which filesystems your kernel currently supports; see [**proc**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/proc/5/markdown) for more
details. There is also a legacy [**sysfs**(2)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/sysfs/2/markdown) system call (whose availability is controlled by
the **CONFIG**___**SYSFS**___**SYSCALL** kernel build configuration option since Linux 3.15) that enables
enumeration of the currently available filesystem types regardless of _/proc_ availability
and/or sanity.
If you need a currently unsupported filesystem, insert the corresponding kernel module or
recompile the kernel.
In order to use a filesystem, you have to _mount_ it; see [**mount**(2)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mount/2/markdown) and [**mount**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mount/8/markdown).
The following list provides a short description of the available or historically available
filesystems in the Linux kernel. See the kernel documentation for a comprehensive
description of all options and limitations.
**ext** is an elaborate extension of the **minix** filesystem. It has been completely
superseded by the second version of the extended filesystem (**ext2**) and has been
removed from the kernel (in 2.1.21).
**ext2** is the high performance disk filesystem used by Linux for fixed disks as well as
removable media. The second extended filesystem was designed as an extension of
the extended filesystem (**ext**). See [**ext2**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ext2/5/markdown).
**ext3** is a journaling version of the **ext2** filesystem. It is easy to switch back and
forth between **ext2** and **ext3**. See [**ext3**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ext3/5/markdown).
**ext4** is a set of upgrades to **ext3** including substantial performance and reliability
enhancements, plus large increases in volume, file, and directory size limits. See
[**ext4**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ext4/5/markdown).
**hpfs** is the High Performance Filesystem, used in OS/2. This filesystem is read-only
under Linux due to the lack of available documentation.
**iso9660** is a CD-ROM filesystem type conforming to the ISO 9660 standard.
**High** **Sierra**
Linux supports High Sierra, the precursor to the ISO 9660 standard for CD-
ROM filesystems. It is automatically recognized within the **iso9660**
filesystem support under Linux.
**Rock** **Ridge**
Linux also supports the System Use Sharing Protocol records specified by the
Rock Ridge Interchange Protocol. They are used to further describe the
files in the **iso9660** filesystem to a UNIX host, and provide information such
as long filenames, UID/GID, POSIX permissions, and devices. It is
automatically recognized within the **iso9660** filesystem support under Linux.
**JFS** is a journaling filesystem, developed by IBM, that was integrated into Linux in
kernel 2.4.24.
**minix** is the filesystem used in the Minix operating system, the first to run under Linux.
It has a number of shortcomings, including a 64 MB partition size limit, short
filenames, and a single timestamp. It remains useful for floppies and RAM disks.
**msdos** is the filesystem used by DOS, Windows, and some OS/2 computers. **msdos** filenames
can be no longer than 8 characters, followed by an optional period and 3 character
extension.
**ncpfs** is a network filesystem that supports the NCP protocol, used by Novell NetWare. It
was was removed from the kernel in 4.17.
To use **ncpfs**, you need special programs, which can be found at ⟨ftp://ftp.gwdg.de
/pub/linux/misc/ncpfs⟩.
**nfs** is the network filesystem used to access disks located on remote computers.
**ntfs** is the filesystem native to Microsoft Windows NT, supporting features like ACLs,
journaling, encryption, and so on.
**proc** is a pseudo filesystem which is used as an interface to kernel data structures
rather than reading and interpreting _/dev/kmem_. In particular, its files do not
take disk space. See [**proc**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/proc/5/markdown).
**Reiserfs** is a journaling filesystem, designed by Hans Reiser, that was integrated into Linux
in kernel 2.4.1.
**smb** is a network filesystem that supports the SMB protocol, used by Windows for Work‐
groups, Windows NT, and Lan Manager. See ⟨⟩.
**sysv** is an implementation of the System V/Coherent filesystem for Linux. It implements
all of Xenix FS, System V/386 FS, and Coherent FS.
**umsdos** is an extended DOS filesystem used by Linux. It adds capability for long file‐
names, UID/GID, POSIX permissions, and special files (devices, named pipes, etc.)
under the DOS filesystem, without sacrificing compatibility with DOS.
**tmpfs** is a filesystem whose contents reside in virtual memory. Since the files on such
filesystems typically reside in RAM, file access is extremely fast. See [**tmpfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/tmpfs/5/markdown).
**vfat** is an extended FAT filesystem used by Microsoft Windows95 and Windows NT. **vfat**
adds the capability to use long filenames under the MSDOS filesystem.
**XFS** is a journaling filesystem, developed by SGI, that was integrated into Linux in
kernel 2.4.20.
**xiafs** was designed and implemented to be a stable, safe filesystem by extending the Minix
filesystem code. It provides the basic most requested features without undue com‐
plexity. The **xiafs** filesystem is no longer actively developed or maintained. It
was removed from the kernel in 2.1.21.
## SEE ALSO
[**fuse**(4)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/fuse/4/markdown), [**btrfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/btrfs/5/markdown), [**ext2**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ext2/5/markdown), [**ext3**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ext3/5/markdown), [**ext4**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ext4/5/markdown), [**nfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/nfs/5/markdown), [**proc**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/proc/5/markdown), [**sysfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/sysfs/5/markdown), [**tmpfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/tmpfs/5/markdown), [**xfs**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/xfs/5/markdown),
[**fsck**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/fsck/8/markdown), [**mkfs**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mkfs/8/markdown), [**mount**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mount/8/markdown)
## COLOPHON
This page is part of release 5.10 of the Linux _man-pages_ project. A description of the
project, information about reporting bugs, and the latest version of this page, can be found
at .
Linux 2020-12-21 [FILESYSTEMS(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/FILESYSTEMS/5/markdown)